1978-79 In English Football Article Index for
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1978-79 In English Football




Bob Paisley won his third league title at Liverpool as his conquering side fought off competition from the likes of Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion to achieve their triumph.

Down at the other end of the table, the three relegation places went to Queens Park Rangers , Birmingham City and Chelsea .


SECOND DIVISION

Crystal Palace won the Second Division title, followed by runners-up Brighton & Hove Albion (in the top division for the first time) and third-paced Stoke City , to achieve promotion to the top flight.

Going down were Sheffield United , Millwall and Blackburn Rovers .


THIRD DIVISION

Shrewsbury Town were crowned champions of the Third Division . The other two promotion spots were occupied by Watford and Swansea City , who within a few seasons would make their mark on the First Division .

Peterborough United , Walsall , Tranmere Rovers and Lincoln City were relegated to the Fourth Division .


FOURTH DIVISION

Reading , Grimsby Town , Wimbledon and Barnsley occupied the Fourth Division Promotion places. The success came for Wimbledon in only their second season as a league club and within a decade they would be an established First Division club, but things would get worse before they got better.

For the second season running, the re-election system voted in favour of the league's bottom four clubs and there were no departures or arrivals in the league.


FA CUP

Arsenal overcame Manchester United 's late revival to win the FA Cup with a 3-2 scoreline, a year after losing to Ipswich Town .


LEAGUE CUP

European Cup winners Nottingham Forest added the League Cup to their honours list to complete another brilliant season for Brian Clough 's revolutionaries.


STAR PLAYERS

Liam Brady was credited for his part in Arsenal's FA Cup triumph with the PFA Players' Player Of The Year .

Cyrille Regis played a major part in West Bromwich Albion 's best league season for years and received the PFA Young Player Of The Year award in recognition of his excellence.

The FWA voted Liverpool 's excellent Scottish striker Kenny Dalglish as Player of the Year.


STAR MANAGERS

Bob Paisley brought league championship glory to Liverpool .

Brian Clough guided Nottingham Forest to a double triumph of the European Cup and League Cup .

Terry Neill won his first major trophy as Arsenal manager in shape of the FA Cup .

Ron Atkinson oversaw a revolution at West Bromwich Albion as a previously ungainly side came just two places away from winning the league.

Graham Taylor won his second Promotion with Watford to bring them within one division of the top flight.


SIGNIFICANT EVENTS

  • Trevor Francis became England's first million-pound footballer after joining Nottingham Forest from Birmingham City. Soon after his arrival he was celebrating his side's European Cup glory.

  • Nottingham Forest added the League Cup to their European Cup triumph, but Trevor Francis was cup tied for this fixture.

  • Manchester United came level with Arsenal in the F.A Cup final after being two goals down, but a last-minute goal from Alan Sunderland saw Arsenal lift the trophy with a 3-2 scoreline.

  • West Bromwich Albion gave champions Liverpool and runners-up Nottingham Forest a run for their money throughout the season before finishing third in the final table.

  • Brighton & Hove Albion were promoted to the First Division for the first time in their history.

  • Japanese hi-fi manufacturers Hitachi became the first shirt sponsors of Liverpool, sparking off a trend for clubs to wear shirts adorning sponsor's names.

  • Queens Park Rangers were relegated to the Second Division just three years after coming within a whisker of the league title.

  • Danny Blanchflower's short-lived and unsuccessful reign as Chelsea manager came to an end after they were relegated to the Second Division.